Cognitive Dissonance in Religion and Spirituality

cognitive Dissonance in piety Cognitive illegitimate enterprise possible action was developed by Leon Festinger to a greater extent(prenominal) than fifty historic period ago as the most influential consistency theory of attitudes (Fanzoi, 2009). This theory argues that we often justify and rationalise our behavior in order to preserve cognitive consistency (Franzoi). In the classical cognitive dissonance investigate conducted by Festinger and J Merrill Carlsmitch, (Festinger, 1959, as cited in Franzoi, 2009) where a group of mountain were asked to perform two 30-minute mundane boring tasks where whatsoever were paid $1 and others were paid $20.At the end of the tasks, maven group was asked to relay the put across that the tasks were genuinely enjoyable and fun to the next group of participants. There was alike control group where they were not required to lie. At the end of the experiment, the holy group of participants were interviewed and asked the question how fun and interesting they actually found the tasks to be.The depart of their finding showed that the $1 liars actually showed more enthusiasm in knowledgeable intercourse others that the tasks were very interesting and fun than the group who said so for $20. The $1 group was experiencing greater discomfort by telling the tasks as very enjoyable when they felt it was actually boring tasks whereas the $20 liars have more justification for their action. The cognitive dissonance experienced by the $1 liars by nature motivated to change their attitude in order to reduce the dissonance. agree to Franzoi (2009), there are some strategies commonly employed to reduce cognitive dissonance such as changing wizards attitudes, adding more consonant thoughts, altering the immensity of the discrepant thoughts, reducing perceived choice, do selfaffirmations to overlook current dissonance and changing behaviour. Having laid a modest ground work on Cognitive Dissonance, I now bid to examine how we can observe cognitive dissonance occurring in ones religion and otherworldliness.I will attempt to establish the insert that ones spirituality may effect dissonance in ones apparitional beliefs. theology is a fixed strategy of ideas while spirituality is the personal views on the fixed system of those ideas (Ventis, 1995, as cited in LUTZ, L. 2003). Given the Cognitive Dissonance in Religion facts that religious beliefs can be challenged by the critical historical studies, and cognitive dissonance would be generated when this occurred resulting in unconscious alteration of beliefs and attitudes (Burns, 2006).A Study on Religion and the Role of It on People and Media.When situations become inconsistent with ones belief, dissonance would occur and needs to reduce it become obvious. When one is universe perceived as hypocritical, such as not practicing what he preaches, one would engage an unconscious strategy to reduce the dissonance often by dint of the misattribution of ar ousal to a source other than ones admit discrepant behaviour (Burns). This is an effective way to maintain ones self-concept as a psychologically consistent and moral person (Fried and Aronson, 1995 Aronson, 1999, as cited by Burns, 2006).In a 1975 memorize of young women participating in a Christian youth program were first-year asked to state their beliefs publicly concerning the divinity fudge of Jesus. They were then exposed to teaching aimed at disconfirming the divinity claim. The study found that those who believed Jesus divinity and also considered the disconfirming information as bona fide dealt with the cognitive dissonance by strengthening their belief in the divinity of Jesus. Those who dismissed the disconfirming information as true did not intensify their stance.The study showed that in some cases the dissonance can actually reinforce original attitudes (Burris, Harmon-Jones, and Tarpley, 1997, as cited in Burns, 2006). Kimberly Mahaffy (1996) did a study on relig ion and how it effects cognitive dissonance (Mahaffy,1996, as cited by MCCLUNG, 1999). This study consisted of participants who were self-proclaimed lesbians who were either associated with a Christian church previously or presently (MCCLUNG). The objective of the study was to determine do these women experienced dissonance when they complete their sexual orientations.Her finding concluded that the pre-evangelical Christians experienced more dissonance than their counter-parts and some women resorted to denying the supremacy of the Bible and thus Cognitive Dissonance in Religion believe that their sexual orientations may not be against their beliefs (Mahaffy, 1996, as cited by MCCLUNG, 1999). My personal association with two friends who are gay who regarded themselves to be move Christians, high cognitive dissonance appeared to occur when they first realized their sexual orientations they even attempted suicides.They claimed to have made attempts to change their behaviour, sought aesculapian treatments but to no avail. They eventually conceded their current lifestyle was not by choice. I would like to cite an observation of cognitive dissonance in my personal spirituality. I used to hold strong conviction that matinee idol has ordained the church I pastor to be in mid(prenominal) vale its existence there has been ordained. There has been much self-affirmation with providence for the first eight years confirming and intensifying that stance.However, tension started to develop the stretch forth two years when financial commitment became burdensome. Cognition dissonance of spirituality became obvious with questions held in great tensions Why do we need to run paying high rental to perplex in Mid Valley? vs. plainly isnt beau ideal able to provide? How do we justify paying so much with little result to show? vs. But isnt it worth it if even one soul has been saved? Arent we called to be in Mid Valley? vs. May be God is redirecting our path to elsewhe re better use the money to buy bear building. The dissonance to remain in current location and the contemplation to move became a spiritual crisis. Coping strategies began to emerge. One member has suggested it is alright to relocate with the hope of returning once we consolidated. The same member altered the importance of the discrepancy with his remark, Its crucial to relocate to conserve resource than to stay on till a crisis looms large. I personally entertained the conceit of financial limitation as sign of divine redirection. As eagle-eyed as dissonance remains high, justification intensifies.Once I embraced peeled attitudes justifying relocation, dissonance Cognitive Dissonance in Religion seemed to reduce significantly. With pertly changed attitudes and beliefs, previous justification supporting old beliefs become irrelevant. From the observation of studies do by Burns (2006), Burris, Harmon-Jones, and Tarpley (1997, as cited by Burns, 2006), Mahaffy (1996, as cited by MCCLUNG, 1999) and from the observation of personal affect, one could reasonably conclude that cognitive dissonance has been notice to occur in religion and spirituality.